Some fans of radio and MTV might think that the closest a popular band can come to politics is by taking on Ticketmaster. Zuba, a four-piece ensemble based in Telluride, Colo., prove otherwise—that bands have brains, education and maybe even a political agenda.

Zuba’s couple-weeks-old second album, The New Cruelty, goes beyond Pearl Jam’s quest against corporate greed and bashes heads with all sorts of injustice that goes on in the land of the free.

“We tried to make a strong statement,” said Wallace Lester, the band’s drummer. “It’s our version of what’s happening in America, how everything is turning into one giant strip mall. You have people blaming welfare mothers for the welfare problems, but they’re overlooking corporate corruption.

“There’s so much untruth out there, especially in our government. No one is really speaking out and calling them on it. People are the ones with the power. We’re urging them to take control.”

The members of Zuba is taking their own advice, too, which is evident in the very set-up of the group. In addition to Lester, there is Mark Pauperas on sax and keyboard, Sid Greenbud on bass, percussionist Billy Cawley, and fronting the whole band is Liza (just Liza, no last name). Lester said that this line-up is what he has always looked for in a musical group.

“Liza is the lead singer and the lead guitar player,” he explained. “That’s unique for a band our size. You know, the woman is either the singer, or the guitarist, but not lead guitar, and never both.

“Liza’s doing it all. You need a very strong front person. Without that, it’s just a bunch of guys up there banging away. The guy who sings is the one with the least worst voice.”

There was no such settling for “least worst” when Liza snagged the front position. Lester said that he wishes more bands, and indeed, more of society, let women have a crack at positions of leadership.

“Women are the real revolution if things are gonna turn around ’cause men have already had their chance,” he said. “People need to listen to both sides, and the male-dominated society had led to greed, spiritual corruption, and that’s not the real path.”

So with life philosophies in hand and a throng of talented musicians, Zuba formed four years ago in a touristy town in the Rocky Mountain State. Lester said that Zuba cemented its musical style by knowing what not to do, as per the example of other local bands.

“I always wanted to play in a band with a strong vocalist, music you could dance to,” he said. “I remember going out and being frustrated with the music I’d hear in clubs. A lot of the bands that were playing around Colorado when we formed were like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers.

“I felt like giving the people something that was more funk and soul oriented. That Grateful Dead stuff tries to be soul, but it gets too doodly. We’ve been classified as world-beat or reggae. We’re not. We’re a soul-funk-rock ensemble.”

A description with so many hyphens is hardly mainstream with today’s crop of bands, let alone the fact that the collection itself is pretty unique. For Zuba, that originality is just what the members want.

“Everyday you turn on the radio and it’s another Nirvana clone,” Lester said. “These guys are huge, and the record companies are trying to cash in on their success. We see what happens to a lotta bands. We need to have a good touring base and put out a couple albums.”

Part of this process includes a stop at People’s Bar and Grill Friday night. Zuba is also expanding the scope of its audience by throwing a couple of tunes onto an upcoming soundtrack.

Kingpin, which stars Bill Murray, Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid and will be released in late June, will feature a soundtrack with two Zuba songs on it.

“It’s gonna give us really huge exposure,” Lester said. “We’re really excited. The people who directed this movie directed Dumb and Dumber, and that soundtrack went platinum.”

With the increased publicity, Lester foresees more and more bands straying into the from-the-gut, not-quite-as-popular genre. “I think it’s getting to be a little more mainstream. It’s gradually changing. Dave Matthews is trying to be funk. Joan Osborne is getting a little soulful. Blues Traveler is huge now. The tides are changing.”

And by the way, the name “Zuba” stems from the days when Lester was a lowly food service employee in Colorado. “It’s pretty much a nonsense word,” he said.

“When I lived in Telluride, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen since I was 10 years old. He worked in a restaurant and gave me a job as a waiter.

“A zuba is what they call waiters. I always thought it was very catchy around the restaurant; everybody used it. People like to say it.”

Zuba will bring its strength and conviction to People’s Bar and Grill Friday night. Las Toallitas will open the show at 9:30 p.m. An ID and $3 at the door will getcha in.